Libertad 8 Café

Malasaña / Chueca, Madrid –

Halfway between the heart of Chueca and the historic Calle Alcalá is Libertad 8 Café, a surprising little haven for artists tucked away on the narrow street that gives the place its name.

A typical Spanish bar with its cracked wood furnishings occupies the front of the café, where a few relaxed regulars can usually be found on their barstools, puffing cigarettes, sipping drinks, and chatting softly with each other and the staff.

The dim, old-fashioned room is noticeably quiet and devoid of any overhead sound system – but from behind the red curtain hung over the arched doorway in the back come the undeniable strum of an acoustic guitar, a smattering of applause, and cries of “Otra! Otra!”

Once the curtain is pulled aside, patrons will discover the heart of Libertad 8 – an intimate room where a small but appreciative audience gathers to enjoy live music from the performers on the tiny, well-lit stage.

A hangout for dissident journalists and writers during the dictatorship, Libertad 8 has stuck to its roots and remains a refuge for local artists of all sorts who come to interact with the audience via book signings, poetry readings, and folk music performances.